Who would make the best president from each top 25 CFB team?

— -- In the spirit of Gerald Ford, J.C. Watts and Heath Shuler -- college stars-turned-politicians -- here's a look at which player from each team in Mark Schlabach's Way-Too-Early Top 25 would make the best presidential candidate.

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

Shaun Dion Hamilton, Jr., LB: Kirby Smart coached more than his share of cerebral stars as defensive coordinator under Nick Saban, but he said Hamilton is the smartest of them all. So forget whoever starts under center and pay attention the Tide's quarterback of the defense. The son of a lieutenant colonel, Alabama's inside linebacker has all the earmarks of a captain on and off the field.  -- Alex Scarborough

2. Florida State Seminoles

Derwin James, Soph., S: For years, James was one of the leaders of the Seminoles' recruiting classes, rallying commitments and undecided prospects. After a freshman season in which James quietly became one of the best safeties in the ACC, he's back in a leadership role. It's not limited to just the defense, where James is being asked to replace Jalen Ramsey. Offensive players also look to James, who is not just one of Florida State's best players but one of its hardest- working players.  -- Jared Shanker

3. Michigan Wolverines

Jabrill Peppers, Soph, LB: Well, Gerald Ford has been there and done that. More recently, former center Jack Miller would have been a good pick. For now, though, Peppers is the best choice. There isn't much he hasn't done since coming to Michigan. He's a good talker and hasn't been afraid to speak out about some hot-button issues since arriving in Ann Arbor. -- Dan Murphy

4. Baylor Bears

Lynx Hawthorne, Sr., RB: Having a memorable name and great hair is always a major plus for a candidate, so Baylor's best nominee is Hawthorne. As a wide receiver, returner and emergency quarterback, he has demonstrated admirable versatility under pressure. He has made the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll four times and is an engaging representative of his team. A confident underdog, Hawthorne could lead a nice grassroots campaign.  -- Max Olson

5. Clemson Tigers

Christian Wilkins, Soph., DL: Wilkins will receive a lot of votes from the Clemson contingency for his catch on a fake punt against Oklahoma, but he was in that position as a freshman because of his maturity. Even opposing coaches rave about his intelligence and demeanor. An outgoing, engaging personality, Wilkins is expected to be a leader in Clemson's locker room as a sophomore. -- Jared Shanker

6. LSU Tigers

John David Moore, Jr., FB: Moore is not just the guy who leads  Leonard Fournette into the hole as one of LSU's top blocking backs, he might be the Tigers' most intelligent player. Moore won the Tiger Athletic Foundation's Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award and was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll with a 3.9 grade point average while majoring in architecture. That's the kind of intellect we need in Washington. -- David Ching

7. Oklahoma Sooners

Baker Mayfield, Sr., QB: Mayfield is never afraid to say what's on his mind, and in this political climate, that would make him an attractive candidate from Day 1. Plus, Mayfield has a proven track record of rallying a team, and when the pressure is on, he's usually at his best. -- Jake Trotter

8. Stanford Cardinal

Christian McCaffrey, Jr., RB: All-everything running back McCaffrey broke Barry Sanders' single-season all-purpose yards record in 2015 and still finished second in the Heisman Trophy balloting. (Perhaps he was a victim of the obscure delegate system?) Not only was he the Pac-12 Player of the Year, he also was a first-team Academic All-American with a 3.31 GPA. On the downside, he might not do terribly well in the Iowa caucuses, unless he disavows the Stanford Band.  -- Ted Miller

9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Corey Robinson, Jr., WR: Robinson was just crowned student body president by his peers, so it's only natural that he has a leg up on his teammates to make a run at the Oval Office. He might have had more competition if guard Steve Elmer stuck around for his senior year and qualified for this honor, but Elmer is graduating early to take a job in Washington, D.C.  -- Matt Fortuna

10. Ohio State Buckeyes

J.T. Barrett, Jr., QB: Even before he arrived on campus, Barrett was being hailed for his inspiring leadership and oratory skills. He has more than lived up to the hype, and those skills and his experience as a decision-maker would also lend itself to the political realm. There was an off-the-field incident last season, but that hasn't kept a candidate from reaching the presidency before, and the way Barrett took accountability for his mistake only improved his standing with teammates.  -- Austin Ward

11. Houston Cougars

Tyler McCloskey, Sr., TE: Coach Tom Herman likes two -- McCloskey and safety  Garrett Davis -- but several players pinpointed McCloskey as White House worthy. "He's just full of energy," defensive end  Tyus Bowser said. "He's fun to be around. ... Always comes to workouts and practice with energy. And when it's time to buckle down, he knows what to do; he's able to get serious and do what he has to do to help the team." Receiver  Chance Allen called him "a general, a captain. He gets us going, and he's a good spokesman."  -- Sam Khan Jr.

12. Tennessee Volunteers

Joshua Dobbs, Sr., QB: Meet one of the smartest players in college football. In addition to entering his second full season as the Vols' starting quarterback, Dobbs is finishing up a degree in aerospace engineering. That's right, rather than running hills and hitting the gym, Dobbs spent a month last summer at an internship with Pratt & Whitney, a global aerospace manufacturer.  -- Alex Scarborough

13. Ole Miss Rebels

Evan Engram, Sr., TE: Engram's versatility makes it easy for him to be one of the faces of Ole Miss football. But he's also a team captain and heavily involved away from the field. Engram is a member of Ole Miss' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the SEC Community Service Team, all while volunteering for the Oxford-Lafayette Special Olympics. He also was a nominee for the 2015 AFCA Good Works Team. -- Edward Aschoff

14. Michigan State Spartans

Josiah Price, Jr., TE:  The soft-spoken tight end is an active member of Christian athlete groups. He also is well-traveled. Surely a summer study abroad trip to Australia gives him as much experience in foreign policy as some other candidates. And if that doesn't sell you, he grew a beard last year that would have earned a nod of approval from Abraham Lincoln.  -- Dan Murphy

15. TCU Horned Frogs

Foster Sawyer, Soph., QB: If you're looking for a candidate who checks the boxes for likability and character, consider TCU quarterback Sawyer. He's competing in the race to replace Trevone Boykin this year, but Sawyer fits the profile of an electable politician: good guy, strong family values, private-school education, 6-foot-5, cannon arm. --  Max Olson

16. USC Trojans

Adoree' Jackson, Jr., CB/WR: What this country needs is politicians willing to reach across the aisle and find common ground. In football, that means reaching across the line of scrimmage and offensive players trying to understanding the feelings of defensive players and vice versa, and then both giving respect to the special-teams guys. Well, no one in the nation is better equipped for that than Trojans cornerback, wide receiver and return man Jackson. He's a uniter, not a divider.  -- Ted Miller

17. Iowa Hawkeyes

C.J. Beathard, Jr., QB: Perhaps sensing the importance of his image as more eyes focused on him, the Iowa quarterback cleaned up his look last year, cutting his hair and trimming the beard. After playing second fiddle to Jake Rudock -- no different than being a VP -- Beathard came into his own in 2015. He can be outspoken but always stops short of generating controversy. And like a true politician, Beathard -- the son of a famous country music songwriter -- is comfortable on stage.   -- Mitch Sherman

18. North Carolina Tar Heels

Mack Hollins, Sr., WR: When teammates are asked about Hollins, the answer usually doesn't include much about his game-breaking ability. They speak to the insightful, intelligent and curious student Hollins is at North Carolina. Hollins has already said he plans to run for president in 2028 when he turns 35, and toward the end of this video in which he announced his campaign it's clear he's comfortable bouncing off tough questions like they're defensive backs. -- Jared Shanker

19. Georgia Bulldogs

Ryne Rankin, Jr., LB: Teddy Roosevelt got plenty of mileage out of his rough-and-rugged persona. Maybe Rankin would too. Many Americans would vote for somebody who played on Saturday and turned around and wrestled and killed wild hogs on Sunday. Rankin also is an unsung hero on the football team, having been named a special-teams captain after last season. -- David Ching

20. Oregon Ducks

Johnny Ragin III, Sr., LB: Linebacker Ragin contributed 20 tackles as a backup for the Ducks' defense, but the California transfer rules in the classroom. The first-team All-Pac-12 academic selection earned a 3.63 GPA in social sciences -- which is good, because the social scene in the U.S. is more complicated than ever. And, well, if you hear that last name, one cannot help but feel a political debate coming on. -- Ted Miller

21. UCLA Bruins

Jerry Neuheisel, Sr., QB: Backup QB Neuheisel has spent much of his life in the public eye, as the eldest son of former Colorado, Washington and UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel. He's smart -- honorable mention All-Pac-12 academic -- and polished. And he led the Bruins to a win over Texas when Brett Hundley was hurt in 2014, thereby demonstrating plenty of grit and moxie.  -- Ted Miller

22. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Brad Lundblade, Jr., C: No Cowboys player is a better candidate to be a future president than center Lundblade. Not only is Lundblade intelligent and likable, the self-confident former walk-on clearly became a hard worker after stepping on campus, forcing his way into the starting lineup and securing a scholarship as a true freshman in 2014.  -- Brandon Chatmon

23. Washington Huskies

Jake Eldrenkamp, Jr., G: Eldrenkamp is a 6-foot-5, 296-pound starting offensive guard, so he knows about protecting valuable assets, such as quarterback  Jake Browning, the future of the program. The junior also is a two-time, first-team All-Pac-12 academic pick majoring in business administration/finance. So he knows capitalism and dollars and "sense." His GPA of 3.71, highest on the Huskies, is notable, as is his being the only student on Washington's athletic director search committee to make an actual recommendation for the new AD, though that information is classified.  -- Ted Miller

24. Florida Gators

Jarrad Davis, Sr., LB: Davis isn't just the new quarterback for the Gators' defense -- he's the face of the program. When he speaks, his teammates -- and even his coaches -- listen. His commanding voice takes over a huddle, he's a tremendous quote with the media and he actually likes being a vocal presence. A hard-hitting, heat-seeking missile on the field, Davis couldn't be a better person to represent the team away from it. Plus, he already has the presidential look by always buttoning the top button of all his polo shirts. -- Edward Aschoff

25. Boise State Broncos

Mason Hampton, Jr., OL: Hampton is hoping to break through on the offensive line this fall, but the two-time Mountain West Conference All-Academic team member and MWC Scholar Athlete Award winner in 2015 has plenty of brains and brawn. The MWC's news release on his election to the All-Academic team states his major is accounting, where he holds a nearly spotless 3.96 GPA. Yet Hampton's official bio calls his major "philosophy." Knowing that Hampton also has an introspective side nourished by history's great thinkers is comforting, just as is his potential ability to balance the books.  -- Ted Miller